Betts - Another option for you might be ferry to Sorrento and catch the Marozzi bus from there to Rome. Departs 5pm and arrives Rome Tiburtina station at 9pm(17.50€).
http://www.marozzivt.it/script/bigli...pobigl=marozzi

Thanks kybourbon! Good suggestion. Leaving now to head to the airport for our flight to Rome. Can't wait!

Tarquin, thank you so much for posting. I had no idea of the impending strike. I too had planned on traveling by train on that day from Venice to Bologna.

Ekscrunchy, thank you for the bus link! I see I can get to Bologna in about the same amount of time as by rail. I've got my fingers crossed the busses will be running.

It sounds like the first think I will do when I arrive in Venice on the 21st is visit a travel agency!

Thank you all for the "heads up" and the information